I was reading over on Drudge that whilst US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may be struggling to nudge ahead of his Republican rival John McCain in polls at home, people across the world want him in the White House, a BBC poll said! Naturally. All 22 countries covered in the BBC poll would prefer to see Senator Obama elected US president ahead of Republican John McCain. In 17 of … Continue reading →

“Daring Mission: Al-Qaeda’s most ambitious attempt since 9/11,” says the Beeb’s website. Thrill as jihadists plot to blow up men, women and children; gasp as they target the UK; laugh as Rashid Rauf eludes the infidels; cry as you realise your license fee is being used to produce this. Click through to read and contribute comments on this post.

Following Hugh’s post on the ‘redneck’ item – I listened on the weekend to the views of that people’s tribune Liz Forgan (Benenden and Oxford) on Any Questions. Ms Forgan’s career took her from the Guardian to Channel Four and then to the BBC, where she was MD of BBC Network Radio. When she left the BBC she became a Guardian columnist and is now chair of the Scott Trust, … Continue reading →

Because I seem to be missing the point of this brilliant piece of irony. Is it the Today programme’s last ditch effort to give the Mail editor an aneurysm; an article designed to achieve the Beeb’s aim of balance over time, and I just missed the Mark Steyn piece preceding it; or could it be just what it seems* – a lament that the left has failed to reach the … Continue reading →

You’ll have your own views on the bias of this piece on immigration by Easton, but the main objection must be that it’s astonishingly silly. After careful study of his colour-coded maps, Easton has concluded that we can, after all, fit a few more people on this island without pushing the Cornish into the sea. “The debate, it seems to me, is not ‘can we cope?’ but ‘how would a … Continue reading →

Again early this morning on the business section of the Today programme between 6am and half pas the hourt, I listened to a BBC correspondent suggest that the state sector had suffered in recent years with very modest wage increases. This was related to the TUC conference today where the comrades are seeking to encourage Brown and Darling to open the cheque-book for some inflation-busting wage increases for the army … Continue reading →

Listened to a report on Today this morning around 6.20am concerning the saga of the death sentence handed down by the Afghan authorities to a 23 year old student whose crime was to download an article of the net on the treatment of women in Islamic societies and noted the references by the BBC correspondent to the “conservative” mullahs behind this rampant stone(ing) age intolerance compared to the “liberal” elements … Continue reading →

Just caught the BBC Ten O Clock News and listened to Al Beeb’s coverage of the conviction of three Muslims intent on mass murder. However what started me was when Frank Gardner appeared to tell us that although the men have been found guilty of a massive terrorist conspiracy to murder involving home-made bombs the men were not convicted on charges of plotting to bomb transatlantic airliners. Frank blamed the … Continue reading →

I see that the BBC have woken up to the news that John McCain has opened up a lead in the polls over Obama. Thing is, when I read this story, it talks of ONE poll when in fact several polls show McCain ahead, including Gallup/UA Today which has him 10 points ahead of the Chosen One. Now like the rest of you, I understand polls can be misleading and … Continue reading →

“Why do Americans think Andy Murray is English?” asks the BBC. “Has there ever been a thinner premise for an article,” wonder its readers. It does serve two purposes for the Beeb, though. First, to paint Americans as idiots, and second to make a dubious case that its Olympics coverage didn’t adequately note Scottish achievements. Others have made a slightly different argument, though. Click through to read and contribute comments … Continue reading →

When politicians or pressure groups come up with proposals to gladden the heart of a right-thinking Guardian reader, accentuate the positive. Think the ongoing pro-euthanasia campaign (aka “helping people die“). When they come up with proposals to horrify same, look around for negative quotes – and make the negative reaction the headline. The recent formation of a cross-party group calling for a cap on immigration illustrates this neatly. The papers … Continue reading →

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. This is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It’s your space, use … Continue reading →

Given the observations already made in the comments, it seems redundant to point out the deficiencies in this report on health minister Ivan Lewis or the contrast with fuller accounts elsewhere. Instead, I’ll issue a challenge to see who can be the first to come up with a report from anywhere in the mainstream media on, er, any story that gives the reader less idea of what actually happened. A … Continue reading →

Mark Easton is clearly not afraid of the stereotypes portraying the media as part of an out-of-touch liberal elite. Here he is on the forthcoming recession, which in fact could be jolly good for us: “I can’t help feeling that for many, the downturn might act as a positive corrective. For those too young to remember what a recession feels like, belt-tightening may bring a new and healthy understanding of … Continue reading →

Most of the criticism of the Beeb comes from the right, but not all of it. Nick Cohen’s piece in Standpoint is a good critique of its drama and particularly the appalling Bonekickers: “As a matter of course, BBC writers have blamed crimes against humanity perpetrated by the enemies of the West on the “root cause” of Western provocation. Occasionally, but more frequently than the casual viewer might appreciate, they … Continue reading →